Personal recovery system

Abstract

A personal recovery unit including a transmitter unit carried by a user is disclosed. The transmitter unit includes an accelerometer, safe zone and/or a video unit used to providing desired warning signals.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A user carried recovery unit, comprising: 
       a transmitter unit carried by a user, the transmitter unit including a transmitter case housing functional electrical components of the transmitter unit;  
       the transmitter unit includes a transmitter for selectively transmitting a warning signal to a central processing center and a motion detector recording rapid deceleration, wherein the motion detector is associated with the transmitter for activating the transmitter to send a warning signal to the central processing center for immediate emergency action when a rapid deceleration is recorded by the motion detector;  
       further including means for resetting associated with the transmitter for preventing the transmission of a warning signal in the event the impending transmission of a warning signal is undesired.  
     
     
       2. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for resetting including an alarm activated when the accelerometer records a rapid deceleration, and the means for resetting signals the transmitter to cease transmission of a warning signal when an individual presses a reset button within a predetermined time in response to the alarm and the transmitter sends the warning signal to the central processing center when the individual does not press the reset button within a predetermined time. 
     
     
       3. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter unit includes a clock and means for initiating the transmission of a warning signal at a specified time of day such that the location of an individual is provided at a specified time of day, and the means for initiating includes a manual input integrally formed with the transmitter unit for selectively setting the specified time of day at which the transmitter unit is to transmit a warning signal. 
     
     
       4. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 1 , wherein warning signals are regularly transmitted after the transmission of warning signals is initiated. 
     
     
       5. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter unit further includes a video unit for recording an image of the area surrounding the individual carrying the personal recovery unit, wherein the video unit is associated with the transmitter such that the recorded image is sent with the warning signal to the central processing center. 
     
     
       6. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter unit further includes means for defining a safe zone; and the transmitter selectively transmits a warning signal to the central processing center when the transmitter unit is moved beyond the safe zone. 
     
     
       7. A user carried personal recovery unit, comprising: 
       a transmitter unit carried by a user, the transmitter unit including a transmitter case housing functional electrical components of the transmitter unit;  
       the transmitter unit includes a transmitter for selectively transmitting a warning signal including information regarding the status and the location of the user to a central processing center and a video unit for recording an image of the area surrounding the individual carrying the personal recovery unit, wherein the video unit is associated with the transmitter such that the recorded image is sent with the warning signal to the central processing center.  
     
     
       8. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the recorded image is sent via asynchronous transfer mode. 
     
     
       9. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the recorded image is sent over a cellular network to the central processing center. 
     
     
       10. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter unit includes a clock and means for initiating the transmission of a warning signal at a specified time of day such that the location of an individual is provided at a specified time of day, and the means for initiating includes a manual input integrally formed with the transmitter unit for selectively setting the specified time of day at which the transmitter unit is to transmit a warning signal. 
     
     
       11. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 7 , wherein warning signals are regularly transmitted after the transmission of warning signals is initiated. 
     
     
       12. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter unit further includes means for defining a safe zone; and the transmitter selectively transmits a warning signal to the central processing center when the transmitter unit is moved beyond the safe zone. 
     
     
       13. A user carried personal recovery unit, comprising: 
       a transmitter unit carried by a user, the transmitter unit including a transmitter case housing functional electrical components of the transmitter unit;  
       the transmitter unit further including means for defining a safe zone housed within the transmitter case and a transmitter activated to transmit a warning signal to a central processing center when the transmitter unit is moved beyond the safe zone; and  
       wherein the transmitter unit includes means for regularly rechecking its position relative to the predefined safe zone and determining whether the transmitter unit is still within the safe zone, and in the event the transmitter unit determines that it is beyond the safe zone the transmitter unit instructs the transmitter contained therein to issue a warning signal to the central processing center.  
     
     
       14. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the safe zone includes a horizontal element. 
     
     
       15. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 14 , wherein the safe zone includes a vertical element. 
     
     
       16. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the safe zone includes a vertical element. 
     
     
       17. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the safe zone is programmed via programming buttons on the transmitter unit. 
     
     
       18. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the safe zone is programmed remoted from the central processing center. 
     
     
       19. The personal recovery unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the motion detector is an accelerometer.